Combination aeroplane and dirigible balloon.



n STATES PATENT onirica.

AUGUST n. MUELLER, or Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Specification of Letters Patent.

Y COMBINATION AEROPLANE AND DIRIGIBLE BALL'ooN.

Patent-,ea Aug. 4., 1914.

Appiicana iea'itovember s, isos, serial No. 527,095.. aenewearune 23, 191e. seriai No. 775,417.

To 'all 'whomtt may concern Be it known that I, AUGUSTE. MUELLERa citizen of Argentina, who hasdeclared his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, and residing xaft Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles andState of California, have invented new and luseful Improvements in Combination Aeroplanes and Dirigible Balloons, of which the following `is a specication.

to be carried particularly in balloon work.

Fig. 5 is a plan' view of a modified form of the invention in which a balloon is com bined. Fig. 6 is a Section on line G-m Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the niaterial of which the aeroplanes are constructed. Fig. 8 is a side elevationof a propeller blade. Fig. 9 is a reverse view of the propeller' shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the form of lrod employed as braces in various parts of the invention. Fig, 11 shows the rectangular cross section of the timber from which the rods are formed with a single cut separating the timber into two halves. Fig. 12 is a plan view of a joint showing method of fastening. I

The prominent feature of this aeroplane, looked at in plan view, is the fish-shaped form having the front aeroplane 1, to be described in detail, the center'portion 2 andthe rear or tail portion 3. The front portion 1 consists of a plane 4 which is pivoted at 5 to braced by truss wires 7 supported by struts 8 and is capable of being tilted into various angular positions with respect to the main axis of the'aeroplane, for example, being capable of being tilted into the position sho-wn.

in dotted lines in Fig. 2 or to any position intermediate the dotted line position and the ful line position shown. Below theV front plane 4 is a front rudder 9, the forward end of which is ivoted to a vertical rudder post 10.situated in the center of and projecting down from the front end of the plane 4. The rudder 9 is triangular in shape tapering toward its rear end to a oint and the rear end is adjusted to swing t e rudder into the desired angular position either side fthe centerline of the plane. Any desired form of. device may be employed for adjusting the plane 4 or for operating the rudder 9 and as such connections form no part of my invention, illustration is unnecessary.

Aft of the plane 4 is `the main or center plane 11 on each side of which are the main side planes 12 the outer edges of which are outwardly bowed andthe inner edges are hinged at 13 to the main center plane 11, so that the side planes 12 may, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, be adjusted into various angular positions with respect to the plane 11 and being capable of being ad'usted almost vertically, if desired, for ren ering the machine more compact and readily transported. Aft of the center plane 11 is thetail plane 3, before referred to, which is hinged at 14 and capable of being adjusted into various angular positions with respect two parts 18 and 19 located respectively onthe starboard and port side, each part 18 and 19 being pivoted at 20 to a transverse pintel or shaft 20, so that each part 18 and 19 of the plane 17 may loe'adjustedv into angularity independently of the other, it thus being possible to incline the plane 18 in any direction' and the plane 19 in the other direction at the saine time for bringing the ship into a` stable position after it has been tilted one side or the other and also capable of acting when both are tilted together in vertical position to act as a brake to retard or stop the motion `of a ship. The parts 18 and 19 are supported by vertical posts 21 which ,are braced by truss wires 22 extending fore and aft and connected to the corners bf the center plane 11, the truss wires 22 being supported by struts 23.

Extending below the center plane 11 from each edge thereof along the ivotal line 13 is a. vertical side lane or reel 24 `which `gives the sides stability for the plane. Be-

low the center lane 11 at the rear' end thereof is a rear ru der which is pivoted to a Vertical brace 26, the front portion 27 of the rudder which projects forward of the brace 26 being of less area than the rear portion 28 which projects aft from the brace 26. Immediately below the center plane 11 is a series of semicylinders 29 transversely disposed. In the present embodiment I have shown six of these semi-cylinders and they extend across the p'lane 11- between each edg'e thereof. A plane 30 extends below the l'plane 11, between the lower edges of the two sets of fans 3T, each fan 31 being arranged on one side of the center line of the main plane 11 and each fan consisting of three straight blades. These fans .operate counter-clock-wise in the direction of the arrows, as shown in Fig. 2, and their purpose .is to propel the plane forward and at the same time lift the planeby acting downwardly upon the air. As each blade of a fan sweeps through the upper portion of its cycle, it is housed by the semi-cylinder 29,

so that itfdoes not oppose or nullify the propelling and lifting action of the blades which are exposed.

Below the center plane 11 is the under plane 32 which is bowed downwardly so that a convex surface is 'presented at the bottom. Braces 33 extend from the front corners 'of the under plane 32 to the front end of the main plane ll and curved braces 34 project from therear corners of the under plane 32 to the rear end of the main plane 11.. Extending up from the under plane 32 and connected to the main plane l1 are vertical braces 35 which are provided with journals 36 in which is mounted a shaft 37, there being two shafts 37, one on each side lofthe plane. At the front end each shaft is supported by a brace 3S and is connected by a universal joint -39 with a propeller shaft 40 carrying a propeller 41, the construction of which will hereinafter be described in detail, the shaft 40 having a telescopic portion 42 which is connected with the front plane 4, before described. The rear end of each shaft 37 is connected by 'l a universal joint 43 with a propeller shaft 44 having a propeller 45 similar' to the propeller 41, about to be described, and the rear end of the propeller shaft 44 .is supported by a brace 46. The universal joints 39 and telescopic portion 42 permit the front plane 4 to be adjusted into angular positions and at the same time adjust the angle of the plane' of rotation of the propellers 41, so

that the angular relation between the prov pellers 41 and plane 4 is substantially constant irrespective of the angular position of the plane 4, thereby securing greatest efficiency. It should be understood that the telescopic shafts 42 connect with the plane 4 at each side of the latter and thus do not' interfere with the adjustment of `thev rudder 9 which occupies the center portion of the plane 4. The shaft 37 has a bevel gear 47 75 which meshes with a bevel gear 48 on a vertical shaft 49 and the latter has a bevel gear `50 meshing with another bevel gear 5l on per planes 17. Aft of the wheels 54 are two 90 l smaller wheels 56, each wheel 56 being mounted in a fork 57 pivoted at 58 and supporting the rear end of the aeroplane by compression springs 59 which serve to cushion the movement and prevent shockto the aeroplane ondamage to the wheels.

. Each propeller 4l or 45 consists of va plus'rality of blades 60, as shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9, each blade having a steel hub 6l with projecting fin 62 to which is secured a tip 63 of-lighter material, such for eX- ample, as aluminum, the leading or cutting edge '64 of which is shorter than the following edge 65, and the tip 63 is located mainly in a plane at Vright angles to the shaft on 10o which the hub is mounted, so that it acts more to cut the air while. the great force vof the air is taken directly by the steel triangular portion of the blade 62. If ldesired, braces 67 may be employed, as shown in Fig. 110 9, to maintain thetip 63 atI the proper angle. As many of these propeller blades may be employed as desired. For instance, in the embodiment herein `-I have shown three blades in each propeller and each blade is an imlepemlent blade capable of being set at any angular position on the shaft independently of the other blades. Furthermore, each blade in operation sweeps through its own orbit which is independent of the orbits of the other blades and hence each blade comes in contiutavith more air' and is thus much more ell'ective than when all blades revolve in the same orbit' and the amount of air acted upon by each blade is less. it being divided among the several blades.

Substantially all of the braces used in the aeroplane in various capacities hereinbefore mentioned are constructed as shown-in detail incesto sa in Fig. 10, each consisting of wood 68 substantially triangular in cross section and ob is augmented by a cable 71 which extends in A av groove formed in the edge 70, the cable 71 being employed in the bowed braces which extend around the outer edge of the' side planes 12 and in the curved under plane 32.

The under plane 32 is preferably of lami nated construction comprising a layer of thin wooden planks or veneer 72 between which is a foraminated material, such as wire cloth 73, the whole being glued together and the veneer 72 being spaced so that the formed which 1s of extreme strength combined with extreme lightness, the wire cloth 7 3 acting as a metal reinforcement; and the veneer 72 furnishing the necessary body.

Fig. 6 shows a modified form in which a i .balloon isv combined with the aeroplane.

y In this ormthe construction is similar to the foregoing form of all portions below the center plane 11 and including that plane, only those portions being removed which are above the plane 11, such portions consisting of braces 23 and upper planes 17 and in place of those elements a balloon 74 is substituted consisting of a plurality of sections. In the present embodiment I have shown three sections, a front section 75, la middle `section 76 jand a rear section 77. These sections are assembled close together and to! gether form an elongated balloon. extending y 'fore and att of the plane and lying immediately above the center plane 11. rlhe front section 75 has its upper wall curved downwardly to form a nose portion 76 which is secured to the front plane 1, so that it is adjusted with the front plane 4l, being f moved With the latter. The center portion 76 is of `substantially even dimensions .throu hout, while the rear portion 77 is eX- tende at the upper rear part to form a tail portion 7 9. The lower portion of each section 75, 7 6 and 77 is provided with accordion folds 80 which permit the necessary expani are tightened to draw down the balloon 'and hold it in the desired form. It it is desired to let the gas expand and provide more,

sion of the balloon and the balloon is formed in sections for reasons well known in the art. The blade sections vare held in place by a netting 81, while adjusting cords 82, of which I have herein shown 8 on each side, extend around the blade and down on each. Side and are wound on a shaft 82', so that by winding up the shafts 82 the cords 82 volume in the bag, the shaft 82 may be turned to let thecords 82 unwind to permit the balloon to expand to position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6, the vaccordion folds 60 permitting of such expansion.

Fig. 5 showsan arrangement whereby the aeroplane may be folded up. The center portion 83 consisting of canvas and Side planes 84 being connect/ed by lazy tongs 85 which permit the side planes 84 to be brought together, the lazy tongs 85 being folded to permit of such movement. At each vedge of the side planes are parachute planes 86 which are supported by arms 87 pivoted at 88 and adapted to be swung outwardly while supporting the parachute planes S6 or to be swung inwardly in the dotted line position in Fig. 5, when their outer ends are detached from the parachute planes 86.

The planes 86 may be utilized in case the l balloon collapses or whenever it is desired` to ease the descent and effect a gentle landing. The center plane 83, which is of-canvas or other suitable material, is provided with a hole or vent 89 in the center which acts to let the air escape as the canvas bellies upward during the descent, which escape of air steadies the aeroplane and prevents it from swinging from side to side as is the case when the air is caused to pile up underneath as in the ordinary parachute and prevented from escaping. In Fig. 5 the front plane 90 is pivoted at 91 along its center portion instead of at its rear edge as in-the form shown in Fig. 2, so that when the front edge of thefront plane 90 tips up, the rear edge tips down. This may be regulated by racks 92. If desired, the front plane 90 may be removed, the front piece 90 can be removedvand folded, also a tail 93, to permit the center plane 83 to be folded up as previously described.

The ropes 81 which form the cross ropes of the netting are comparatively light as indicated in Fig. 6, while the vertical'ropes 82 which extend down to the shaft 82 vare comparatively larger and stronger, the cross ropes 81 being oi one-fourth t-he strands of the large rope.

Fig. e shows a boat auxiliary in the form ot a dish 9i, the side walls of which slope upwardly shown to mprevent the water .troni entering the vdish even though the dish strikes the water at an angle. A propeller is provided for operating the dish-shaped boat 9e. This auxiliary boat may be carried under the aeroplane in lieu of the under plane 32.

Fig. 12 shows Vthe method Iof fastening employed which consists of sewing bars 96 and 97 together by thread 96, thus avoiding metal and securing great strength ot fastening.

YWhat I claim is:

1. In an aeroplane, a fish-shaped plane, the front portion of which is pvoted thereto along its rear edge and vertically adjustable,

and a rudder underneath said adjustable plane pivoted to the forward end, of Said portion and carried thereby.

2. An Iaeroplane comprising a main plane, a front plane pivoted thereto, a rudder pivoted to a vertical post under and carried by the front plane, and a rudder below the main plane near the rear thereof.

3. An aeroplane comprising a main plane, a front plane pivoted thereto, a plurality of propeller shafts connected to yeach side of the front plane, propellers on said shafts, and means for driving 'said propellers'.

4. An aeroplane comprising a main plane, a front plane pivoted thereto, a plurality of propeller shafts connected to each side of the front plane, propellers on said shafts, means for driving said propellers, a telescopic joint connecting the said propeller shafts with said front plane, and a universal joint between said propeller shafts and their operating means permitting adjustment of the front plane. l

An aeroplane comp-rising a main plane,

a front plane ivoted thereto, a plurality'of' propeller shafts connected to each side of the front plane, p ropellers on said shafts, means for driving said propellers, a plurality of propellers at the rear of the main plaine and below the same, and longitudinal' shafts connected by universal joints to the propellers at each end.

6. In combination, a pair of superposedU semi-eylinders and the ends vof the lower e i plane being inclined to the upper plane and rotating fans located in said semi-cylinders, and protruding below the `serni-eylimlers.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set I my hand at Los Angeles, California,|` this 30th day of October, 1909.

j AUGUST E. MUELLER. In presence of- P. H. SHELTON, FRANK L. A. GRAHAM. 

